Did the Vikings Botch Their QB Situation? Reassessing Minnesota’s Now-Bumpy Bet on J.J. McCarthy, Backup Plans

As we approach the midway mark of the 2025 NFL season, the Minnesota Vikings find themselves in a precarious position, potentially on the cusp of starting their third quarterback of the year. Head Coach Kevin O’Connell’s recent admission that undrafted rookie Max Brosmer is "an option" if Carson Wentz falters as J.J. McCarthy’s replacement underscores the unexpected turbulence under center.

This scenario is far from the Vikings’ envisioned plan. A year ago, none of the team’s current quarterback trio were actively involved with the franchise. McCarthy was sidelined, recovering from a torn meniscus that derailed his rookie campaign. Wentz was relegated to the Kansas City Chiefs’ bench, serving as Patrick Mahomes’ backup. Brosmer, meanwhile, was still honing his skills with the Golden Gophers. Yet, these three quarterbacks now represent the Vikings’ dwindling hopes for a playoff berth, a stark contrast to the previous season when Sam Darnold’s impressive 35-touchdown performance led the team to 14 wins and a flirtation with the NFC’s top postseason seed.

The question arises: Where did things go awry? And should the Vikings be held accountable for the current predicament?

While the 2025 season is far from over, with the Vikings holding a 3-3 record after six games, their path to contention appears increasingly challenging. Wentz has displayed glimpses of the arm talent that once made him a prominent starter. McCarthy showed promise in a prime-time appearance before succumbing to an ankle sprain, and he is reportedly nearing a full recovery. Even Brosmer impressed with his preseason composure, suggesting his readiness if called upon.

However, the Vikings face stiff competition in the NFC North. The Detroit Lions remain a formidable force. The Green Bay Packers are also showing signs of strength. The Chicago Bears, revitalized under new coach Ben Johnson, have strung together four consecutive wins. While the Vikings boast an occasionally opportunistic defense led by Brian Flores, along with elite pass-catchers like Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, their playoff aspirations are increasingly jeopardized by the instability at the quarterback position.

This level of disarray is something Minnesota was clearly not prepared for. This season was supposed to be the grand ushering in of the J.J. McCarthy era. Despite McCarthy’s lack of NFL experience due to his rookie-year injury, O’Connell and General Manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah emphasized his potential throughout the offseason, consistently overlooking more established alternatives.

The Vikings opted for a different approach after Kirk Cousins’ solid, albeit unspectacular, tenure. They chose to prioritize infrastructure over a high-profile quarterback investment, believing that a strong supporting cast would provide the ideal environment for McCarthy’s development.

Internally, this decision was met with widespread support. McCarthy’s teammates pointed to the veteran presence at the skill positions, the strengthened offensive line featuring new starters Ryan Kelly and Will Fries, the exotic defense, and O’Connell’s proven culture-building abilities. McCarthy himself expressed confidence in the Vikings’ "stacked" roster and drew praise for his veteran-like composure honed under Jim Harbaugh at Michigan.

However, the plan hinged on McCarthy’s consistent performance and his ability to stay healthy. The 22-year-old showed his inexperience in his first two starts, struggling to find a sustainable rhythm in the passing game. Even before the ankle injury sidelined him in Week 2, there were concerns that he might cede snaps to Wentz, who was acquired as the primary backup.

The Vikings’ predicament is further highlighted by Wentz’s presence, raising questions about whether to rush McCarthy back or turn to Brosmer. Wentz, acquired late in the preseason, remains a volatile quarterback, capable of both brilliant plays and puzzling decisions. While some quarterbacks can quickly adapt and help a franchise stay competitive (as Joe Flacco did for the Cincinnati Bengals), the Vikings’ situation is different. The Bengals had Joe Burrow as their established starter. The Vikings had McCarthy, an unproven commodity. While the addition of Wentz provided O’Connell with a viable option off the bench, questions remain about the timing of the acquisition.

Did the Vikings misjudge the stability of Sam Howell, their initial choice as McCarthy’s backup, when they acquired him from the Washington Commanders during the draft? Did they need the entire summer to realize their mistake? And why did they wait until late April to make the gamble in the first place? Was it because Adofo-Mensah and O’Connell were indecisive about pursuing Aaron Rodgers at the last minute?

While the season’s outcome remains uncertain, the possibility of a one-year deal with Rodgers now seems like a more appealing option. With the existing infrastructure, Rodgers could have potentially led the Vikings to a better position, while McCarthy could have benefited from observing and learning from a seasoned veteran. However, the Vikings chose to give McCarthy an unchallenged opportunity to claim the franchise and establish himself as "the guy." This decision may now jeopardize their playoff chances.

At this point, these are just hypothetical scenarios and reflections on the past. The Vikings made the 2025 season about McCarthy. McCarthy stumbled out of the gate before getting injured. It’s not surprising that the Vikings are now struggling to regain control at the quarterback position, reminiscent of the 2023 season when Cousins was injured, and O’Connell had to rely on Joshua Dobbs, another last-minute backup, and other available options. In some ways, this situation is worse because Cousins’ departure signaled a move toward the future with McCarthy. McCarthy was supposed to be the future and the present.

Gambles, even when seemingly logical at the time, can fail. That’s the situation the Minnesota Vikings find themselves in. Now, they are hoping that someone emerges to salvage the remainder of the 2025 season and perhaps improve their prospects beyond.